Darnell Washington vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown
If you are choosing between Darnell Washington and Zach Ertz for your lineup, you are not alone. Darnell Washington finished the 2025 season at 4.5 PPG for the Pittsburgh Steelers (13 games), and Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 for the Washington Commanders (13 games).
That 3.3-point weekly advantage for Zach Ertz is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Zach Ertz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 50 receptions for 504 yards, while Darnell Washington profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 31 catches). In weeks where Darnell Washington finds the end zone he out-scores Zach Ertz, but the floor gap is real.
Darnell Washington has his bye in Week 9, and Zach Ertz rests in Week 7. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
